Foil-Stamped vs. Embossed Wedding Invitations: A Comparison Guide

Since your invitation suite is your wedding’s first impression, it’s natural to want elegant stationery that will pack a punch. And while there are many different wedding motifs available, textural elements, such as the metallic finish of foil-stamped invitations and raised designs of embossed invitations, can help solidify a luxe wedding aesthetic. But which dimensional printing techniques will serve you best?

At Zola, we've helped thousands of couples create their perfect wedding invitations. Our printing experts have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you choose between two premium options: foil-stamping and embossing. These wedding invitation printing methods offer design impressions that plain invitations just can’t compete with. Here’s how to choose between the two.

Visual Differences Between Foil Stamping and Embossing

At Zola, both embossing and foil stamping are premium options for wedding invitations. When searching for wedding invitations, you can also select either letterpress or foil options to narrow down your options.

What are foil-stamped invitations best for?

Foil invitations are best suited for modern, glamorous, Art Deco, or metallic-themed weddings. Visually, they can have a high impact, as their heat-pressed foil elements catch the light and create dramatic contrast, resulting in a luxury wedding stationery experience. Everything from line details to floral flourishes can be highlighted with metallized film.

What are embossed invitations best for?

Embossed invitations feature a pressed design that creates the illusion of raised lettering, providing a tactile invitation experience. These are ideal for classic, understated, elegant, and traditional weddings. The design impressions are subtle and sophisticated, offering impact in monochromatic or minimalist designs.

Foil Stamping Process vs. Letterpress Comparison

How Foil Accents Are Added to Wedding Invitations

To put it simply, with Zola’s foil invitations, metallic foil is heat-pressed onto paper using a hot foil stamping machine (also called a heat press). This involves applying heat and pressure to transfer the foil's design onto the paper. The process consists of a mylar film with a metallic layer, a release layer, and an adhesive layer. When heated, the adhesive melts, bonding the foil to the paper, while the plastic carrier film is peeled away.

Adding foil to your invitations can add a week or so to your production time, so if you’re in a rush, incorporating metallic accents into your invitation typography may not be the best choice. Foiling is also available in several colorways, including gold, silver, holographic, and rose gold, to suit your specific needs. These metallic design impressions can further enhance your Zola invitations with a signature reflective finish.

How Letterpress and Embossed Invitations Are Made

Letterpress wedding invitations are created using a traditional printing method that involves pressing an inked design onto thick cotton paper. This creates a tactile impression where the design is slightly indented into the paper, a technique referred to as colored embossing. When no ink is used, the process is called blind embossing because custom dies press into the paper, leaving an impression.

Embossing creates three-dimensional, raised designs —a Zola specialty that gives the feel of handcrafted invitations using premium paper stocks. Letterpress is an age-old process that gives invitation durability, meaning that your stationery can serve as a true keepsake.

Invitation Budget Considerations for Embossed and Foil-Printed Invitations

Adding upgrades, such as heavyweight paper options and shiny accents, will increase the cost of your invitations. For invitations alone, Zola’s prices start at $4.49 per invitation for letterpress and $2.49 each for foil.

So, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, foil accents will cost less than letterpress. Why? Embossing requires the creation of a custom die tailored to your specific project. Plus, the paper thickness is key for letterpress, so your paper costs will be higher.

Foil accents can be added to invites on regular paper stock, which is a plus for your budget. While foil-stamping typically costs less than embossing through Zola, both methods represent premium printing techniques.

Practical Considerations for Deciding Between Foil and Letterpress

• Timelines: Production time differences between techniques and both options will add time to your invitation production timeline.
• Envelope Considerations: Since letterpress is thicker, there will be weight implications for postage. The amount of weight foil adds is negligible, but it will still factor into the weight of your invites.
• Invitation Suite Coordination: Wedding suite cohesion is key, so if you choose to use foil or embossing for your invitation, ensure that other pieces of your wedding invitation set match.
• Seasonal Considerations: Certain seasons lend themselves better to foil or letterpress printing. Embossing can add beautiful details to a fall wedding, whereas shiny metallics add panache to a winter affair.
• Legibility Factors: When using smaller fonts, they can be more challenging to read, regardless of whether you choose embossing or metallic accents.
• Longevity: Letterpress invitations are thick and durable, and tend to stand the test of time well.

FAQ About Choosing Between Metallic Accents and Embossing

Is foil stamping more expensive than embossing?

No, because letterpress requires thicker paper, embossing is more expensive and starts at $2.00 more per invitation on Zola.

Can both techniques be done on any paper type?

While foil can enhance just about any weight of paper, embossing requires paper that is thick enough to leave an impression. So, no.

How much extra time should I allow for these premium techniques?

Allow at least a week and up to two weeks for safety’s sake for premium techniques, unless you opt for rush shipping.

Do foil-stamped invitations require extra postage?

Unless you have very heavy foiling, it shouldn’t have a significant impact. However, still take your stationery set to the Post Office to determine the exact postage. Letterpress invitations are heavier, so they will most likely require higher postal fees.

Zola's Favorite Letterpress and Foil-Stamped Styles

Favorite Letterpress Invitation Designs

• Caleania - a lovely, classic floral and greenery frame
• Davies - an Art Deco stunner with graphic lines
• Cardinell - an offset, simple design with high impact
• Kalispell - all your information within an eye-catching, oval frame
• Nahomi - your names take center stage (suite pictured below)

Favorite Foil-Stamped Wedding Invitations

• Roana - a dark background of florals with a statement, metallic frame
• Maui - a shiny palm leaf surrounding your text
• Bloomsbury - an explosion of flowers with metallic highlights
• Interstellar - happy polka dots with foil highlights throughout
• Ione - watercolor mountains with sunny, foil accents (pictured below)

Zola: Your Place for Wedding Invitations

Can't decide? Spend time perusing Zola's full collection of wedding invitation suites. Whether you're set on floral designs or crave a rustic feel, we have all of the parts and pieces to send to your wedding guests.